Il pleut dans mon coeur (it's raining in my heart)

Comme il pleut dans la ville (as it is raining in the city)
Because it is rainy in Paris right now. No matter what the weather, as Audrey Hepburn said, "Paris is always a good idea."
So, what is good to do in Paris when it rains?  Spend time in a museum.  Don't just choose one of the big ones, try a smaller museum, like the Cluny, which features medieval art housed in a small castle. Also in the Cluny?  Ruins of a Roman bath.
There is shopping in the Galeries Lafayette and spending some time in the cafeteria on the 6th floor of the main building.  Sit right next to the little ladies who have tea aroud 4 pm, and look out over the rainy rooftops from the windows.
Explore one of the many passages that are covered walkways.  There are shops that feature vintage, well, everything, and some cafes where you can still watch the people pass by.
Speaking of cafes - try one of the beautiful cafes that dot the city.  Want to be chic and have a cognac where the intellectuals spent time?  Try Aux Deux Magots in the 5th arrondissement.

Or, you could just put up your umbrella and take a walk in the rain.  Stroll through the Tuilerie Gardens, or maybe even the Luxembourg.  Listen to the drops on your umbrella, or enjoy just getting wet in the Parisian drizzle.
Whatever you choose remember - Paris is always a good idea.

If it's Tuesday...

It Must Be Belgium.  That is the name of a 1969 movie about an American travel group and its British tour director.  They are on a whirlwind tour of 8 countries in 9 days, which means that there isn’t a lot of time to experience a particular country. That tour group is an amalgam of single men, a few single women, a family, plus some couples.  There is, of course, an itinerary that some want to follow to the letter, “Aren’t we doing London by Night?  It’s in the brochure...”

Imagine yourself at the Eiffel Tower!

Although there are still group tours, the kind of people who take them are slightly different and the same all at once.  The first tour I took with adults included several couples celebrating milestone anniversaries; a three generation family with grandparents, parents and two children; a man who enjoys group travel along and relishes the company of his fellow passengers; plus two young cousins who were taking a trip before going back to university and graduate school.

“Imagine, we saw all of England in one day!” Thank goodness, the tour that we are going on next summer, Paris and Barcelona, isn’t that kind of expedition.  We don’t have to get up at 6 am every day, and there is plenty of free time if you wish.  There are a couple of things that we do as an entire group, plus some optional excursions that you can take if you desire.  If you’re like one of my friends, the best part of the tour is doing nothing.  City tours allow him to get up late, then meet us for lunch and the rest of our day.

Why not come along to Paris and Barcelona, June 26 – July 4, 2016.  There are only 15 spots left; in order to reserve your seat on the bus, all that it takes is a $300 deposit.  Then you can make payments up until the final one in April.  We will have a couple of parties before leaving to enjoy Spanish cava (sparkling wine), Iberian ham, French cheese and all sorts of their wine. 

Visit http://jackiwilliams-jones.grouptoursite.com to see the highlights of the tour, and then to put down your deposit!  If you would like, I can help you with the deposit process either in person or on the phone.

See you at the airport!